Can you install and run apps built on the .NET framework on a Mac?

Question

I need to use/continue developing a desktop app developed using .NET on my Mac. Is there a .NET framework 4.0 available for Mac? Would this allow running and developing of .NET-based apps on a Mac?

Another option that i am considering is using a windows virtual machine on the Mac.

Answer 1

You can use a .Net environment Visual studio, Take a look at the differences with the PC version.

A lighter editor would be Visual Code

Alternatives :

1. Installing the Mono Project runtime . It allows you to re-compile the code and run it on a Mac, but this requires various alterations to the codebase, as the fuller .Net Framework is not available. (Also, WPF applications aren't supported here either.)

2. Virtual machine (VMWare Fusion perhaps)

3. Update your codebase to .Net Core, (before choosing this option take a look at this migration process)

   • .Net Core 3.1 is an open-source, free and available on Window, MacOs and Linux

   • As of September 14, a release candidate ¹ of .Net Core 5.0 has been deployed on Window, MacOs and Linux.

[1] : Release candidate (RC) : releases providing early access to complete features. These releases are supported for production use when they have a go-live license